By Ed Piper
Time for another unofficial award, with the Vikings enjoying their bye week, including a day off from practice Mon., Sept. 23.
"TRENTON FUDGE KICKER-AND-RECEIVER" AWARD
When I interviewed junior Devin Bale for a La Jolla Village News story Monday, he didn't know who Trenton Fudge was.
Fudge was the "little brother" who played during the golden years of Collin Rugg and Carlton O'Neal, when La Jolla football, with present Head Coach Tyler Roach as Offensive Coordinator, set records for passing touchdowns in a season (46 by Rugg, a CIF San Diego Section record at that time), career receptions (O'Neal), and other marks.
Fudge started out as a sophomore in 2013 as a place-kicker. He only was inserted at receiver periodically.
As he showed the ability to catch passes consistently, he played during more and more snaps, until becoming a major contributor to the Vikings' spread, speed-up offense in Rugg's senior season, 2014.
Where Bale comes in is the combination of his kicking and his pass-catching. He is blasting punts (Fudge wasn't a punter). He is doing an excellent job in his place-kicking. And his receiving on offense fits right in with his brothers at receiver: Cooper McNally, Luke Brunette, Makai Smith, and Diego Solis.
Fudge also exhibited considerable ability hitting the baseball and playing second base for Gary Frank's Viking baseball team, even after taking a year off from baseball.
Bale's "other" sport is soccer, where he is a starter on defense for La Jolla.
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